In My Classroom
Visiting other classrooms is an incredibly powerful support tool, but it often can be difficult to find the time to do so. At Seedlings, we try to make this seemingly impossible task possible by giving you a glimpse into other teachers’ classrooms on this site. We asked Seedlings alumni and facilitators to give us a glimpse into what their classrooms.
If you have found success in implementing ideas or approaches related to Seedlings, please consider contacting us.
Math, Literacy and Science Skills Soar with Henley the Eagle as their Class Mascot
Henley the (stuffed) eagle is the class pet Myree Conway’s first grade classroom. Henley not only helps to engage students in STEAM skills development and learning first-grade curriculum, but he is also a big part of their social-emotional
development.
Hands-on Classroom: Empowering Teachers and Students to Take the Wheel for Authentic Learning
Seedlings visited J. S. Martinez STEM Magnet School to talk with STEM resource teacher Alyssa Granata-Basso and observe one of her STEM challenge classes in action. We talked with her about maintaining her passion for teaching, the importance of hands-on student-driven learning, and how she continues to grow.
Watch Students Explore Gravity Concepts And Problem Solve through STEM
J.S. Martinez Magnet School’s STEM Resource Teacher Alyssa Granata-Basso welcomed Seedlings Educators Collaborative to observe students don their engineering hats in a hands-on problem-solving lesson exploring gravity. In teams, students designed, built, tested, and re-engineered a traveling vehicle to protect Alyssa’s friend “Eggbert” from the impact of landing.
Reclaiming Kindergarten by Going Back to the Basics
As schools and districts place increasing emphasis on scores from high-stakes testing, teachers receive less autonomy in developing experiences and curriculum that engage students in meaningful learning. Over the course of one year, teachers revamped their kindergarten program, putting children’s development and interests in their rightful place as the centerpiece of curriculum by bringing play back into the classroom.
Jen Wilson’s Kindergartners Discover STEAM and Meaningful Connections in the Great Outdoors
Jen Wilson, kindergarten teacher at Cook Hill School in Wallingford, and the school librarian, Anna O’Brien, were awarded a grant from the Wallingford Education Foundation to develop a program they are calling KinderTinker. Jen and Anna are bringing the learning outside for extended free play and exploration, as well as structured STEAM-based activities that tie into the kindergarten science units.
What should we expect from a 5th grader?
There are academic, behavioral and social-emotional benchmarks we expect of our general education students, no matter the year, but fifth grade, in particular, brings about new expectations as students move from lower elementary to more focused academic work, classroom transitions, and the need for organization and multitasking, among other important skills.
Animals in Winter: Student-Driven Learning to Explore Habitats
Jen Wilson’s kindergartners learn about shelter, safety, food (incorporating science, nature, math, engineering, literacy and art) through play- and project-based learning.
Hug a Tree: A Framework for STEAM Learning
Julie Peterman’s 3-year old class at Conte West Magnet School explored trees as a way of learning and applying math, literacy, science, SEL and more through a play-based approach.
Kite Making Teaches Seasons, Weather and Other Targeted Science Skills
Jen Wilson’s kindergarten class studied and built kites to study weather and motion through inquiry, observation, research, and design. Students also learned imported social-emotional skills like overcoming frustration, perseverance, quelling anxious feelings.
Journey Into Inspiring Play-Based Learning Classrooms
Visit educators working in neighborhood schools in cities throughout Connecticut. You’ll see learning that is truly active, engaged, social, meaningful, iterative, and joyful. In every setting, children meet and exceed expectations when classrooms embrace play-based learning.
Visit the Based in Play website to watch the film Based in Play and for more information on play-based learning and valuable professional development resources.